The next chpater.

it's been almost four months. 16 countries (ok, including a few hours in monaca, a few hours in slovakia, and driving a few hours through lithuania). probably more than 30 cities. I took who knows how many trams, buses, metros, trains. I took 4 flights total. I don't want to know how much i spent. I carried 10kg of weight with me, which was a little too much, i realized i could do with 7. all these numbers remind me of a blindman's description to what a horse is. One would feel its ass and say "it's smooth and rounded", one would touch the teeth and say "it's sharp and rigit", one would touch the tail and say "it's nice and hairy". they are all correct, of course, but none really understands what a horse is. it's a gestalt thing, you see. similarly, though not the perfect analogy, these numbers tell about my journey, but don't convey the overall gestaltish experience. It was great. maybe because i made no preplanning, so had no plan to diverge from. or maybe just cosmic karma stuff. or maybe it's my grandfather watching over me, as my mother always says. there is a time for journeys and a time for home. a time for work and a time for leisure. sometimes they are intertwined, sometimes they are seperate.
I had a great time, and I am ready for the next chapter.

Another issue relates to identity. Seeing many people living their lives in different ways and styles, speaking a dozen languages and living in different worlds, made me realize how close we all are. We are different, but not THAT different. Quite obviously, we all want the same basic things.
I also realized my little country is not bad at all. While many countries have many things to offer, my tiny little Israel doesn't fall behind. We have been struggling for quite a while on being recognized in the hearts of people around the world, and I think we're there.
My trip also made me quite optimistic about politics as well. All of a sudden, it seems inevitable to me that things will be ok. I strongly feel we can all live together here, whatever country and whatever religion, in a country that has a historic link as a home to the jewish people, but other than that a totally country of all its citizens, a country where my prime minister can pray 5 times a day if he wanted to, and my mayor could go to church on sundays.

Also, I realized I kindda like blogging every now and then.
so, who knows, maybe i'll keep doing that.
Cheers, and thanks to everyone that has been reading.